Oxford University Development, a £4bn joint venture between the University of Oxford and Legal & General Capital, has launched an international design competition to find a masterplan team for its £1bn Innovation District
The winning design team will set the ambition and design intent for the £1bn Oxford Innovation District.
The project will also create a community of up to 2,000 quality homes, with new schools, a public park and a nature reserve.
OUD’s aspiration is to create a boundary-pushing scheme that demonstrably achieves a step-change in sustainable design, delivery, and operation.
The new Oxford Innovation District will seek to attract the very best minds, while driving economic growth, improving transport connections, delivering benefits for local people, as well as enhancing the surrounding natural landscape.
The design competition invites interest from international, UK-based, and local teams, encouraging large, established practices to join forces with individuals or emerging practices.
The competition is being managed by Colander Associates, who has created a hashtag, #OUDcompetition, for firms to find each other online. The winning team will be expected to offer both gravitas and experience alongside fresh-thinking and radical ideas.
‘Looking for a stellar team’
Anna Strongman, CEO of the Oxford University Development, said: “We’re looking for a stellar team to design a masterplan that both responds to Oxford’s housing needs and propels the economic attraction of the new centre as a place to live, work, and foster innovation and enterprise.
“We want to bring together the best minds in the industry, to work with us, Cherwell District Council, and our local communities to create a masterplan of global significance.”
Dr David Prout, pro-vice-chancellor (planning and resources) at the University of Oxford, commented: “For nearly two decades, the university’s Science Park at Begbroke has been home to a wide range of research and development activities across our Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences departments, playing a vital role in contributing to the wider local, regional, and national economy.
“Oxford University is and will remain the freeholder of the majority of the land, and its strategic goal is to create an exemplary new community that the University and local residents can be proud of – a world-leading Innovation District with sustainability at its heart.”
Laura Mason, CEO of Legal & General Capital, added: “Science, engineering and innovation have never been more important, and new schemes like Begbroke will help ensure UK universities continue to be world-leading.
“We are helping realise their potential by investing in much-needed science infrastructure, which can incubate the great talent and innovative spin-outs which come from these first-class institutions.
“In addition to Begbroke, Legal & General has brought forward projects, in partnership with world-leading universities, worth £2bn this year alone.”
Aspiring entrants should visit www.colander.co.uk/architectural-competitions for more information on the criteria, and are asked to submit Stage 1 submissions by Friday 3 December 2021.
